Writing an Auction Watch has a robotic routine. I conduct my Canadian search, then I conduct my global search. I have done it for years.
Yesterday was the first time that I thought, “Forget the Canadian search. It’s just this guy’s shit clogging eBay up.” Plus, anything worth talking about would still be noticeable in the global search.
The first auction, M.U.S.C.L.E. Men Figures Muscles – CLASS A ROBIN MASK #046 Light Blue & 7 More!!, reminded me that not all habits are bad. I’m not letting one fool wreck my routine.
I could try to lie and say that I really loved these figures or that I was excited about the Class A Light Blue #46. Neither would be true. The truth is that I am very, very curious. This auction has all of the things that make a Class A auction interesting to watch: (1) super low starting bid; (2) clear pictures; (3) fair shipping; (4) a M.U.S.C.L.E. figure at probably a second tier of popularity; and (5) some perfectly nice additional figures. C’mon, who doesn’t like #195?
I probably need to defend the forth point I considered interesting. I consider Robin Mask, when talking about M.U.S.C.L.E. figures, to be in the second-tier of popularity. Muscleman, Terri-Bull, The Claw, and the Sunshine figures are the height of M.U.S.C.L.E. popularity. The prices we see connected to those figures support the idea – plus the years of popularity tournaments long-time collectors have witnessed. The second-tier would be Robin Mask, the “baby” figures, and some of the monster figures (like a #193). If we were talking about Kinnikuman, then Robin Mask is clearly top tier.
Maybe the final price of this first auction will prove me wrong. Maybe the MRT will come into play and confuse us all with an absurd final price. And maybe some bidders will over-value the Class B figures making things even more confusing.
It will be interesting to watch.
The second auction, VINTAGE M.U.S.C.L.E MEN WRESTLING FIGURE LOT CLEAR RED GRAPE GREEN FLESH MATTEL!, also makes me wonder. It makes me wonder if the seller is innocently naïve or a calculated manipulator hoping to snag a hopeful, and impulsive, buyer.
Do you know why I am wondering that? If not, then take another look at the auction. I’ll wait.
See anything?
If you still haven’t noticed, then you might be the person he’s hoping to snag. The third auction picture features a Flesh lot of figures and at the center is Dark Emperor. Before you start move around funds, it is clearly a keshi and not M.U.S.C.L.E. plastic.
So is the seller naïve or calculating?
The truth is, I think he’s naïve. His other auctions don’t have long, detailed descriptions. He’s not mentioning the “harder” or “softer” versions of figures, because I don’t believe he knows that it matters.
With free shipping and a $0.99 starting bid this might just be a fun lot that also scores you a placeholder Dark Emperor. I believe the placeholder is just as good. And arguably better when you consider the price difference.
#1 by Godofon on February 10, 2016 - 12:28 pm
I’m going to use this post to vent a little. As I stated a couple of posts ago, I’m down to the last few figures I need to get to 235, so I’m buying a few as singles on ebay. So I put a bid in on one common flesh figure (and not a desirable one) for $1. Yesterday, someone outbids me! Who the heck comes in and outbids someone on a common, run-of-the-mill flesh figure? I understand that’s the nature of ebay, but come on. And upon looking further, there are others available on ebay for LESS than what his current bid is. People on ebay are ridiculous.
#2 by Milo on February 11, 2016 - 8:05 pm
AHHHHHHH!!! I got featured on Auction Watch…and it was for the rest of my M.U.S.C.L.E. figures so it couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m auction #1 and those are my last M.U.S.C.L.E. men. Everything I know about auctions for these little dudes, I learned from you. So thank you for that.
It’s been a real treat following these posts and I will continue to check back here even after I ship these little dudes to whoever wins.
Thanks for the help!